Adhesives #461

February 16, 2018

This week we're discussing glue from two very different times. We speak with Dr. Jianyu Li about his research into a new type of medical adhesive. And Dr. Geeske Langejans explains her work making and investigating Stone Age and Paleolithic glues.

Guests:

  • Jianyu Li
  • Geeske Langejans

Guest Bios

Jianyu Li

Jianyu Li is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at McGill University since September 2017. In the past, he obtained his bachelor's degree from Zhejiang University in China in 2010, and a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Harvard University in 2015. He did postdoctoral research at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University from 2015 to 2017. He was the recipient of Wyss Technology Development Award for enabling translational research. His work has been published in high-impact journals such as Science, Nature Communications and Nature Reviews Materials. His research interests include biomaterials, mechanics, soft machines, drug delivery, cellular and tissue engineering.

Geeske Langejans

Geeske Langejans is a Palaeolithic archaeologist with a special interest in material culture studies and ancient technology. Her most recent project is on Neandertal and modern human adhesive technology. Here Geeske and her team use a combination of traditional microscopy, experimental studies and high-tech industrial adhesion tests to unravel glue production and its perceived complexity.